A Letter from Assemblyman Mike Feuer

Dear Friends,

Governor Brown signed or vetoed hundreds of bills last month, marking the end of this year's legislative agenda and the beginning of next year's efforts.  As you know, the ongoing budget crisis and continuing economic recession make this a challenging year for Californians.  In the Capitol, major revenue restrictions limited the Legislature's options when addressing our most complex problems.  Nevertheless, we enacted important laws, and in this newsletter I've provided an update on my five bills the Governor signed.

In addition to having a productive year in Sacramento, my staff and I have had an active year in our district.  Over the past year, my office and I hosted two job fairs to help get people in our community back to work, partnered with Friends of La Rocha Trail to protect a rare stretch of uninterrupted greenspace in the hills of the Hollywood Dell from impending development, worked with CalTrans and the City of LA to help publicize last summer's I-405 closure for construction, visited with constituents and small business owners at town halls across the district, and met with a number of you in my office to discuss issues you care about. 

Also in this newsletter, I've included information about my support of federal legislation regulating commercial helicopters flying over residential neighborhoods, a transportation update, some information about the Medicare open enrollment period, and a profile of North Hollywood, one of the many notable communities that I am honored to represent. 

As I begin my final session as your Assembly Member, I am committed to making this my most productive and responsive year yet.  I am now constructing my legislative package for the upcoming session, and invite you to propose ideas for legislation you would like me to consider.  Please read below for more information.

As always, please contact my office if you need more information about anything in this newsletter or if we can be of assistance to you. 

Sincerely,

Mike Feuer
Assembly Member, 42nd District

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I am pleased to report that Governor Brown signed all five of my bills that reached his desk.  These new laws will take effect on January 1, 2012 unless otherwise noted.  Here is what they will do: 

AB 1344 (Feuer):  Transparency in Local Government. This new law promotes greater transparency in local government decision-making and helps prevent abuses like those in the City of Bell.  It restricts excessive, automatic increases in local officials' compensation.  It also requires public officials convicted of a crime to reimburse any local agency funds expended on their legal defense, as well as paid leave and cash severance.  Without this fix, local agencies may be contractually obligated to use public money to honor severance clauses – even for employees found guilty of crimes. 

AB 809 (Feuer):  Record Retention for Long Guns.  Long guns make up one-third of guns used in crimes, but, unlike records of handgun sales and transfers, the records of such transactions are destroyed just 10 days after being filed.  This bill closes that loophole by requiring that law enforcement keeps, rather than destroys, those records.  This important public safety measure will assist law enforcement by providing additional information to quickly identify the owners of guns used in crimes, and help expose illegal trafficking channels, return stolen guns, warn about the presence of guns at residences when responding to emergency calls, better trace long guns that are illegally trafficked into Mexico and used in border crime and violence, and disarm dangerous felons, domestic abusers and mentally ill individuals who are prohibited from possessing firearms.   The measure goes into effect in 2014. 

AB 641 (Feuer):  Protection from Poverty for Same-Sex Spouses and Domestic Partners in Nursing Homes. This law provides same sex spouses and registered domestic partners of nursing home residents the same financial protections currently available to opposite sex married couples.  Without these protections, Californians in same sex relationships risk losing access to joint financial resources, such as bank accounts or stock, when their partner or spouse applies for the Medi-Cal long term care benefit.   The law helps members of same sex couples make the important and difficult decision to place a spouse in a nursing home without worrying about losing access to shared assets and facing poverty due to unequal treatment before the law. 

AB 1151(Feuer/Blumenfield): The Divest From Iran Act. For decades, California has engaged in socially responsible investing, from divesting pension funds from companies supporting apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s to imposing sanctions against Sudan for human rights violations. This law brings a new level of transparency and accountability to California's public pension funds, while helping ensure that taxpayer dollars do not go toward investing in companies that do business with Iranian energy interests. The bill complements legislation I jointly-authored last year to prevent California from contracting with companies with significant investment in Iran's energy sector—legislation the Financial Times reported has already made a significant impact on the practices of multinational corporations.

AB 913 (Feuer): Certified Green Business Program. This bipartisan measure helps small businesses make informed decisions to reduce pollution and conserve energy.  Many small businesses desire to be environmentally friendly but do not have the same resources available to large companies to research and implement sustainable business practices.  AB 913 creates the California Certified Green Business Program, a unique partnership between the Department of Toxic Substances Control, local government and small businesses. The new law will formalize this innovative partnership and provide a model for bringing green business programs to more California communities. 

In addition, the Governor signed into law two committee bills that I introduced in my capacity as Chair of the Judiciary Committee. AB 1407 is a measure designed to help implement a law I wrote last year to discourage underage drinking by holding adults legally responsible for knowingly providing alcohol to minors.  AB 1403enacts several modest but necessary changes to civil procedure such as clarifying the voir dire process by which courts evaluate the fitness of potential juries and allowing an indigent person who prevails in a case to recover the cost of court interpreter services under certain conditions. 

Thanks again to those of you who took the time to send notes and make phone calls to the Governor in support of the bills I introduced.  I appreciate your support, and I am proud that we were successful in passing these much-needed laws. 

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Last month, I had the opportunity to speak about my Assembly Bill 52 at a community health forum hosted by the Park La Brea Residents Association.  Dr. E. Richard Brown, director of the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, and Elan Shultz, health deputy for the Office of Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, joined me for a thoughtful conversation about state and local health care issues.  Expanding access to affordable health care is a priority of mine, which is why I introduced AB 52, legislation that would curb the skyrocketing price of health insurance by authorizing state regulators to approve, modify or reject proposed health insurance or HMO premium rate increases.  AB 52 has faced heavy opposition from the insurance industry, but I will continue to fight to pass it and will keep you updated on its progress when the legislature reconvenes in January.

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Before the legislature reconvenes in January, I will decide which bills to introduce in the upcoming session.  As part of this process, my staff and I are researching problems in need of legislative solutions, examining the most effective laws in other states, and, importantly, listening to constituents' ideas for proposed legislation. 

During each year I've represented you, my highest priority has been to author legislation addressing the most pressing challenges facing our state and its people, and I am eager to hear from you about your ideas for laws California needs.  Additionally, I'm interested in hearing about existing laws that may need to be updated or changed. 

Please send your suggestions to me in writing atAssemblymember.Feuer@assembly.ca.gov. 

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For too long, residential neighborhoods in Los Angeles have had to deal with noise and other burdens from commercial helicopters, which are causing a major quality of life issue throughout our region.  This is a frustrating problem for California officials because although these helicopters are not sufficiently regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the State of California and local governments are precluded from adopting regulations over the operation of commercial helicopters. 

U.S. House Representative Howard Berman has authored necessary legislation addressing this issue, the Los Angeles Residential Helicopter Noise Relief Act of 2011, H.R. 2677.  This bill, co-sponsored by Representatives Brad Sherman, Henry Waxman and Adam Schiff, requires the Administrator of the FAA to issue regulations for helicopter operations in the County of Los Angeles.  The measure provides that regulators may exempt the activities of emergency helicopters.

I recently sent an open letter to Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer requesting that H.R. 2677 be included in the upcoming Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization.  Seventeen members of the Los Angeles County Delegation to the State Legislature signed this letter urging California's Senators to support this much needed regulation.

I have long been concerned about noise and other associated impacts of helicopters on neighborhoods.   Last April, Supervisor Yaroslavsky and I sent a letter to the California Department of Transportation, which controls permitting of helipads, strongly opposing the issuance of a non-emergency helipad permit for the Los Angeles Sofitel Hotel, which is adjacent to over 1,000 homes.  I will keep you updated on H.R. 2677 and other efforts to regulate helicopters flying over our neighborhoods. 

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405 Sepulveda Pass Carpool Lane Project:  This project continues to move forward. My staff coordinates regularly with other elected officials' staff and Metro, Caltrans and LADOT to address the concerns and meet the needs of our constituents who are feeling the impacts of this major construction project.  The most intense part of the project will get underway in the first quarter of 2012 as the Wilshire loop ramps undergo closures and reconstruction. 

The project coordinators are currently working with agencies responsible for relocating utility lines in Sepulveda and Wilshire; this work needs to be completed before ramp construction can begin. New lines are being installed; then old lines are being taken out of operation. Each utility is handling its own line work.

Metro is committed to keeping Sepulveda operational when the Wilshire ramp reconstruction begins, and the agency will host a community meeting at least thirty days prior to the start of construction.  As many of you are aware, some of the closures will be for as long as ninety days – an eternity in our traffic-plagued part of the county, but with the prospect of better traffic flow ahead.  Detour maps are available on Metro's website, as well as information about the ramp reconstruction:  http://www.metro.net/projects/I-405/wilshire-bl-ramps-reconstruction/.  Please continue to let my office know if we can facilitate communication about traffic, noise, detours and other issues as they arise.

The Westside Subway Extension, a project which will move thousands of commuters out of their cars and across the city, is nearing a milestone: the final environmental impact report (FEIR) is anticipated to be released for circulation by Metro in early 2012. This project is one of the Measure R projects in Metro's Long Range Transportation Plan and is partially funded by Measure R sales tax revenue; Metro is actively seeking federal funding to take the project all the way to UCLA and the Veteran's Administration.

In late 2010, the Metro Board approved the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the subway extension. The Board also approved a motion to further study the risks associated with tunneling along two proposed alignments running from Beverly Hills to Century City and up to Westwood. One alignment would turn off Wilshire Blvd. and continue west down Santa Monica Blvd. to a stop at either Century Park East or Avenue of the Stars, and continue to Westwood. The other proposed alignment would leave Wilshire Blvd., travel under Beverly Hills High School and stop at Constellation Blvd., continuing under the shopping center to Westwood. 

Metro has just released the results of geologic, seismic and other technical studies of the areas where tunnels and stations have been proposed.  These studies, conducted by some of the world's leading seismologists and engineers, are posted on Metro's website at www.metro.net/westside.  According to these scientists, extensive testing along and around the proposed alignments reveals that both of the proposed Santa Monica Blvd. station locations for Century City are in areas with complex faults. By contrast, the Constellation Blvd location is south and west of the newly mapped Santa Monica Blvd. fault zones, and there is no evidence of faulting at the proposed Constellation station location. The seismologists and engineers who conducted the studies concluded that tunnels can safely be constructed under Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills High School, Century City and Westwood.

As always, I support a data-driven approach to safety for this project, and look forward to reviewing the information presented by the scientists. I have spoken with Dr. Lucile Jones, the Chief Scientist of Science Application for Risk Reduction at the United States Geological Survey, to learn more about the conclusions of the studies.  Metro anticipates completing the Final EIR in early 2012 and releasing it to the public as required by federal and state law. Metro staff will make recommendations to the Metro Board about choosing an alignment for the subway, and the Board will make the final decisions. 

Van Nuys Corridor Rapidway: Metro, in cooperation with the City of Los Angeles, has been holding community meetings to inform the public about the start of a study that will identify options for improving transit service along the Van Nuys Boulevard corridor in the San Fernando Valley. Metro aims to provide the public with background information on the beginning of the Van Nuys Corridor Rapidway Study and allow public input on various ways to better connect the corridor to the regional transportation network.

According to Metro, the Van Nuys Rapidway study area extends from Ventura Boulevard north to the I-210 freeway.  Initial alternatives under consideration as part of the beginning of the Alternative Analysis include Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT), Streetcar, a "No Build" alternative and a Transportation Systems Management (TSM) alternative which would use tools like synchronized traffic lights and other methods to assist the flow of traffic along the corridor.

As you may remember, I wrote the legislation authorizing Measure R, the half-cent sales tax for specified transportation projects, to go on the ballot in 2008. Measure R, approved by the voters of LA County, earmarks $68.5 million for the East San Fernando Valley North-South Rapidways that includes the Van Nuys corridor. Three other corridors, Sepulveda, Lankershim/San Fernando and Reseda, are being studied through a separate environmental process.

Expo Line Phase 2: This project is underway! I joined other local elected officials at the ribbon-cutting for this important light-rail project last month. Expo Phase 2, which will run from the current terminus of Phase 1 in Culver City to the Sears parking lot in Santa Monica, would complete the first rail link between downtown and Santa Monica in decades (remember the old Red Cars?), and provide motorists currently stalled on the Santa Monica Freeway with a speedy, green alternative to automobile travel in our part of the County.

Federal Reauthorization of Transportation Funding Bill:  The eighth short-term extension of the federal transportation funding bill known as SAFETEA-LU was enacted by Congress late this summer. The extension maintains current levels of funding for transportation projects nationwide through March 31, 2012. Hopefully, the House and Senate versions of the bill can be reconciled so that much-needed road, bridge, seaport and transit projects can move forward, providing thousands of desperately-needed jobs.

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I would like to make you aware of an opportunity to play a central role in our democracy by applying to sit on the Los Angeles County Civil Grand Jury.  The Civil Grand Jury plays an important role in our democracy by investigating county, city and joint-power agencies and acting as a watchdog to ensure that L.A. County is being governed honestly and efficiently, County funds are being handled appropriately and public jails are being managed properly.
  
 The Civil Grand Jury is comprised of twenty-three members who visit facilities, audit operations and accounts, meet with officials to perform oversight and develop recommendations for improving our government.  Because of the time commitment involved, membership on this body is a full-time obligation for a period of a year. 

For more information about this applying to be a Civil Grand Juror, including necessary qualifications and details on compensation, please visit http://grandjury.co.la.ca.us. 

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Medicare Open Enrollment is the one time of year when all people with Medicare can see what new benefits Medicare has to offer and make changes to their coverage to adjust to their changing needs.  Here's a message from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services about what Medicare Open Enrollment Period means for you and why you should not miss this important opportunity to examine your options under Medicare.

Click here for more information

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This month, I'd like to highlight North Hollywood, another one of the many notable communities in the 42nd District.  Located just over the Hollywood Hills, North Hollywood is a dynamic mix of residential neighborhoods, studios and an exciting array of galleries and art centers.   As you might imagine, people who live and work in North Hollywood are passionate about their community, and I am pleased to have the opportunity to work some outstanding organizations from this neighborhood.

Universal City North Hollywood Chamber of Commerce: For more than 100 years, the Chamber has advocated for business and economic opportunity in the Greater North Hollywood area.  The Chamber has overseen many changes in the region, from the dawn of the movie industry to the emergence of the NoHo Arts District.  Throughout these transformations, the Chamber has served as a powerful advocate for business owners, residents, artists and neighborhood organizations in the North Hollywood Area.  Especially during these difficult economic times, the Chamber undertakes important work to support its members in growing their businesses and developing meaningful business relationships in order to maintain a strong, prosperous and healthy community.  

I very much enjoyed my recent breakfast meeting with Chamber members.  Much of the Chamber's success is due to Executive Director Michelle Gilstrap and President Vic Viereck, with whom I have the pleasure of working closely.  For more information about the Chamber and other upcoming events, please visithttp://www.noho.org.

The NoHo Arts District: The NoHo Arts District is a one square mile community located in North Hollywood that is brimming with an eclectic array of entertainment options.   This up-and-coming neighborhood boasts public art installations, professional dance studios, music recording venues, annual festivals, international dining options, a wide array of clothing and specialty shops, more than twenty theatres and six art galleries.  You can find more information about the NoHo Arts District at NohoArtsDistrict.com, where publisher Nancy Bianconi is extremely active in promoting exciting developments in the District and driving business to the area.  Thank you, Nancy, for your work to get the word out about this exciting community.  

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I am pleased to report that I received a score of 100% on the Consumer Federation of California Scorecard for State Legislators.  Consumer Federation of California (CFC) evaluates legislators based on votes they make on issues important to consumers, such as financial privacy, health care reform and product safety standards.  My voting record reflects my strong belief that it is important to ensure there are safeguards in place to facilitate a fair and just marketplace for consumers.  During my time in the Assembly, I have introduced legislation to make health care more affordable, written a law requiring nursing homes to post quality of care ratings and authored comprehensive legislation to get toxins out of everyday products.  

CFC is one of our state's leading consumer advocates, and I am proud of the work we have done together to protect California families from unscrupulous business practices and equalize the playing field for the middle class. 

In addition to recognizing my legislative record on consumer issues, CFC announced its support for AB 52, legislation I introduced to curb the skyrocketing price of health insurance by authorizing state regulators to approve, modify or reject proposed health insurance or HMO premium rate increases.  This important measure would help protect small businesses and members of the middle class against being priced out of the individual health insurance market.

Also, I recently received the Los Angeles Psychological Association's Distinguished Legislator Award at the Association's annual luncheon.  It was an honor to be selected for this recognition, and to share the afternoon with so many dedicated mental health professionals.